Why do a lot of Christians deny global warming?

[Of Mike and Men]

I'm just really confused by this.

[Houseman]

Forget about the words global warming for now. Throughout the Earths history our planet has gone through variances in temperature, it's 100% happened before Humans existed, the question is really whether or not we are affecting this natural cycle right now as it's happening by either speeding up the process, making it worse, or whether the earth is getting hotter because of normal scientific reasons that have nothing to do with burning plastic.

[Angel]

This is the first I'm hearing of this.

[Revolution]

Because right wing politicianss often use religion to get Christian voters, and then these politicians tell the voters not to believe it. It's really nothing to do with the religion, I know a lot of Christians who believe in global warming. It's just that in the US, very devout Christians are more likely to be right winged Republicans, and the Republican party denounces global warming.

[Baxter]

Lol, they do? I've never heard the two being related.

Coffee pretty much nailed it though. Democrats want to spend money on researching global warming, and preventative methods. Republicans don't want to increase government spending because the country is in severe debt, so the quickest way to stop funding global warming research is to deny it exists.

[Of Mike and Men]

If you step into a Church, youll see what I mean. "God can take care of His planet." That is the common logic behind their arguments. It's like okay, well, whenever you get cancer, don't bother seeing a doctor. God will take care of it.

[JKmadu619]

Of Mike and Men: And yet is that not what the Bible advertises? When in the desert the people with Moses were not supposed to save the bread rained by God every day, for he would provide what was needed. However they continued to collect the bread, and leave it spoil. This obviously insulted God, seeing as he had promised to provide for them.

Yes, I get a different meaning from the passage, but it could be interperted that way.

- Justin

[Iris. ♥]

I've honestly never heard of something like this. O.o
All I know is that the earth does go through changes like this. So, it's not really a matter of believing in today's sense of the word -- that the ozone layer is depleting and that we caused it. It's just something that happens.

[Ghost On The Highway]

I think the perception for a lot of republicans is that environmental legislation will be costly, inefficient, and result in further outsourcing and economic decline. Whether this is true or not depends on how regulations are implemented. Many Christians are republican and follow right-wing news, which tends to profess that global warming is a hoax, a natural phenomenon, or not a serious problem.

Jkmadu, I believe that God provides for us but also gives us the choice to squander his gifts. The Parable of the Talents provides a good example of this -- the third servant was given a gift by "God", failed to use that gift to glorify Him, and was condemned as a result. The Earth is simply God's greatest gift to mankind -- what we've done to it and how we continue to treat it is our responsibility.

[JKmadu619]

Ghost on a Highway: I agree with your interpertation of the passage, and yet I simply wanted to point out some people may feel they are abiding God's word by living off faith in him. And putting absolute trust in our future.

- Justin

[Of Mike and Men]

Justin,

But faith without works is dead. The people still had to go and gather the bread. G-D didn't baby feed it to them and force them to chew and swallow. Work was still required. God was offended because they sinned by not obeying. Christ affirmed the sick need a physician. This doesn't mean you sit back and do nothing till a physician knocks on your door.

[Megan1]

I can't speak for all Christians, but here is where most of my friends and I stand on the subject:

It's not that we deny that global warming exists, we just don't feel the need to focus so much on "saving the planet" like others do because of the fact that we believe that Jesus is coming back soon and the world will end and can't be saved anyways.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for recycling and planting trees and all of that to help out and make the Earth as good as possible while we are here...I just don't think it should be a main priority because I know that the Earth is going to end anyways (most likely soon, though no human knows exactly when).

[Xujhan]

Originally Posted by Megan1

I can't speak for all Christians, but here is where most of my friends and I stand on the subject:

It's not that we deny that global warming exists, we just don't feel the need to focus so much on "saving the planet" like others do because of the fact that we believe that Jesus is coming back soon and the world will end and can't be saved anyways.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for recycling and planting trees and all of that to help out and make the Earth as good as possible while we are here...I just don't think it should be a main priority because I know that the Earth is going to end anyways (most likely soon, though no human knows exactly when).

You realize that you're gambling with the lives of all our children with this mindset. Do you really think you have that right? I recognize that you don't believe it matters, but in turn you must recognize that, if you're wrong, your attitude may be condemning billions of people to unnecessary suffering. To me that seems unconscionable, no matter how certain you are of your own infallability.

[Of Mike and Men]

Megan,

Global warming isn't just going to effect future generation, it's effecting entire towns and villages right now. People have had their entire towns flushed out and completely gone because of the effects of global warming. The bible predicts that there will be famines, earthquakes, floodings, etc. all in the last times, which, are the effects global warming will.have. Our carelessness and insensitivity is costing thousands of peoples homes to be destroyed. Not only their homes but even lives have been lost over this. It might be nice to.sit back and not worry, but it's ignoring the call to love our brothers and sisters effected by this right now. I can share with you graphic and terrifying stories in third world countries due to this.

[JKmadu619]

Xujhan: And yet what do you do to help the environment aside from recycling and buying a low-flow toilet? It is not as if Megan is in a position of power, or is dumping tar into fresh flowing rivers. She just doesn't really care all that much, bu tit's not like she's intentionally making backwards progress.

I personally do not believe that a God is going to just kill us all at any time, yes the apocolypse will happen eventually, but people have always believed it is 'Soon" it's been "Soon" for 2011 years. Denying your responsibility because it's "Soon" is foolish if we last another 2011 years.

However I also believe human extinction is long overdue. We've needed an ice-age for centuries, and we've lasted quite a long time as kinds of earth. I honestly think we're on borrowed time as it is, and destroying the earth will only speed up that progress. Without resources we're dead.

At the same time I believe people come before other animals, and before the environment. Canada was recently criticised for cutting environment funding instead of elderly/disabled funding, but I honestly prefer for the elderly and disabled to get that money. Right now our generation is the one that matters, what good is making our race last 1,000 more years if we're all miserable right now.

- Justin

[MichWolverineFreak]

Ive never met anybody whos ever said that, Christain or nonchristain, and ive never met a nonchristain except for a few jews. exception: in drivers ed, this literally crazy girl (not lying or being mean) made up her own religion called "Blue Chicken". First time Id ever taken a public school class, it surprised the hell outta me.
By the way, Christains arent people who dont take saving the Earth seriously. We're supposed to take care of the world God gave us.

[Megan1]

Like I said, I do think that it is important to help the environment in order to protect our health...but at the same time, I know that we can't "save the Earth" and that it's more important to focus on eternal things.

[dr2005]

As my understanding of Christianity's role for mankind is one of being the planet's custodians, I find denial of global warming to be completely at odds with this, and in addition find it a deeply un-Christian attitude to take in light of the social consequences of global warming as well. At no stage has God given us free rein to do whatever the hell we like with Earth and damn the consequences - we have a duty to preserve it and to safeguard our fellow man, and those who forget this do so at their peril.

[Xujhan]

Originally Posted by JKmadu619

Xujhan: And yet what do you do to help the environment aside from recycling and buying a low-flow toilet? It is not as if Megan is in a position of power, or is dumping tar into fresh flowing rivers. She just doesn't really care all that much, bu tit's not like she's intentionally making backwards progress.

The biggest thing I do is not drive. A car only runs on my account once or twice a month, on average. I also list environmental policy high on the list of considerations when casting my vote. Those are two of the big things that people should do more of.

Originally Posted by JKmadu619

However I also believe human extinction is long overdue. We've needed an ice-age for centuries, and we've lasted quite a long time as kinds of earth. I honestly think we're on borrowed time as it is, and destroying the earth will only speed up that progress. Without resources we're dead.

So you're in a hurry to see humanity die out? Don't exactly know how to argue with that one. Good for you, I guess?

Originally Posted by JKmadu619

At the same time I believe people come before other animals, and before the environment. Canada was recently criticised for cutting environment funding instead of elderly/disabled funding, but I honestly prefer for the elderly and disabled to get that money. Right now our generation is the one that matters, what good is making our race last 1,000 more years if we're all miserable right now.

We're not talking about the next thousand years; we're talking about the next hundred, most of which you and I will be alive for, and the rest of which our children will be. Sacrificing the present for the sake of the future can be self-defeating, yes, but sacrificing the near future to live a little more comfortably in the present is at least as foolish.